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Stone Lore
Alexandrite has been described by
poets as "emeralds by day and ruby
by night" due to the show of color
change from green, in fluorescent
(day) light, to red, in incandescent
(spot) light. Alexandrite, the color
change variety of the mineral
chrysoberyl, is named for
Alexander II Czar of Russia. It was
reportedly discovered in the Ural
Mountains of Russia on Alexander's
birthday in 1830. Today,
Alexandritee is found primarily in
Brazil, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, India,
Russia and Africa. This unique stone
needs no treatments to enhance its
natural beauty. Alexanrite is the
birthstone for the month of June and
is designed for the 55th wedding
anniversary
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The Alexandrite is an alternative birthstone for
the month of June.
Alexandrite is one of the most fascinating gemstones
throughout history: a gem variety of the mineral chrysoberyl
that actually changes color from green in daylight to red in
incandescent light. The first time you see it, it is hard to
believe your eyes! Gems that show special optical effects
are known as phenomenal stones. Chrysoberyl dominates
this category, because not only is alexandrite the most
spectacular color change gem, cat's-eye chrysoberyl has
the most dramatic eye. Alexandrite has a distinguished and
glamorous past: it was discovered in 1830 in Czarist Russia.
Since the old Russian imperial colors are red and green it
was named after Czar Alexander II on the occasion of his
coming of age.
Alexandrite can be found in jewels of the period as it was
well loved by the Russian master jewelers. Master
gemologist George Kunz of Tiffany was a fan of alexandrite
and the company produced many rings featuring fine
alexandrite in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
century, including some set in platinum from the twenties.
Some Victorian jewelry from England features sets of small
alexandrites.
Alexandrite is also sometimes available as an unset stone
but it is extremely rare in fine qualities. The original source
in Russia's Ural Mountains has long since closed after
producing for only a few decades and only a few stones
can be found on the market today. Material with a certificate
of Russian origin is still particularly valued by the trade.
Some alexandrite is found in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and
Brazil but very little shows a dramatic color change. For
many years, alexandrite was almost impossible to find
because there was so little available.
Then in 1987, a new find of alexandrite was made in Brazil
at a locality called Hematita. The Hematita alexandrite
shows a striking and attractive color change from raspberry
red to bluish green. Although alexandrite remains extremely
rare and expensive, the production of a limited amount of
new material means a new generation of jewelers and
collectors have been exposed to this beautiful gemstone,
creating an upsurge in popularity and demand.
When evaluating alexandrite, pay the most attention to the
color change: the more dramatic and complete the shift from
red to green, without the bleeding through of brown from one
color to the next, the more rare and valuable the stone. The
other important value factors are the attractiveness of the
two colors - the more intense the better - the clarity, and the
cutting quality. Because of the rarity of this gemstone, large
sizes command very high premiums.
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